Shloka 8

Varṇāśrama-ācāra and Vikarma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Safe Dharmas (शिवधर्मप्रश्नः)

Devanagari script

यत्रास्तमितशायी स्यान्निराशीरनिकेतन: । यथोपलब्धजीवी स्यान्मुनिर्दान्तो जितेन्द्रिय:

Transliteration

yatrāstamitaśāyī syān nirāśīr aniketanaḥ | yathopalabdhajīvī syān munir dānto jitendriyaḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“出家者当如圣仙而住，摄持其心，调伏诸根；无所贪求，无有定居。日落于何处，便于何处安歇，不为自己建寺立庵。凭宿业因缘，自然而得者以自活；以不求而得之物维持其身。”

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र

• अस्तमित-शायी: one who lies down (sleeps) at sunset (i.e., stays where sunset occurs)
• अस्तमित-शायी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्तमितशायी
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्यात्: should be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Optative, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• निराशीः: desireless, without expectation
• निराशीः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराशी
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अनिकेतनः: homeless, without a fixed abode
• अनिकेतनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिकेतन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यथा: as, in whatever manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• उपलब्ध-जीवी: living on what is obtained (as it comes)
• उपलब्ध-जीवी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपलब्धजीविन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्यात्: should be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Optative, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मुनिः: sage, ascetic
• मुनिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दान्तः: self-controlled, tamed
• दान्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जितेन्द्रियः: one who has conquered the senses
• जितेन्द्रियः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जितेन्द्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• muni (sage/ascetic)
• saṃnyāsī (renunciant)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches the ideal conduct of a renunciant: restrain mind and senses, abandon desires, avoid establishing a permanent residence, keep moving, and live on whatever comes unasked—cultivating detachment and inner discipline.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma after the war; here he outlines practical marks of a true ascetic/saṃnyāsī—how such a person should dwell, eat, and relate to possessions and expectations.